...into battle. 6z One of the eagle's strongest opponents was Benjamin Franklin, who said, "The eagle is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly. . . . too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing hawk, and when that diligent...

...number two position. Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to his daughter, Sarah, in 1764, "l wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative...our country; he is a bird of bad moral character, like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy."...

...Referring to the propensity of eagles to steal fish caught by the smaller osprey, or fish hawk, he wrote: I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative...not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perch'd on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour...

...that the turkey, not the bald eagle, should be the national bird of the United States. The Raid Eagle is a Bird of bad moral Character; he does not get his living honestly. Besides, he is a rank Coward; the little kingbird, not bigger than a Sparrow, attacks him boldly and...

...the bald eagle to the Delaware River valley. For my otvn part, I tvish the 'Bald Eagle had not heen chosen as the 'Representative of our (Country; he is a 'Bird of had moral (Character; he does not get his living honestly; you may have seen him perch 'd on some dead...

...quoted by Sparks: "Others object to the bald eagle as looking too much a dindon, or turkey. For my part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative...our country; he is a bird of bad moral character. . . . For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original...

...supreme. Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey would have been a good symbol for our nation. He said: "I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the...our country; he is a Bird of bad moral character; like those among Men who live by Sharping and Robbing, he is generally poor and often very lousy. The...

...pay. Others object to the bald eagle, as looking too much like a dindon, or turkey. For my own part I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative...his living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree near the river, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the...

...provoked one of Franklin's most famous riffs about America's values and the question of a national bird: I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative...his living honestly; you may have seen him perched on some dead tree, near the river where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labors of the...

...since Franklin's touching words have been in the public domain for over two centuries: "I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative...his living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk, and...